2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks season explained

The 2002–03 NBA season was the Bucks' 35th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] For the first time since 1993–94 season, Glenn Robinson was not on the opening day roster. During the off-season, the Bucks acquired Toni Kukoč from the Atlanta Hawks.[2] [3] In a year of transition, the Bucks played mediocre basketball with a 14–20 start, but then won 13 of their next 16 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break.[4] In February 2003, just before the trading deadline, the Bucks dealt 3-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for 34 year-old All-Star point guard Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.[5] [6] [7] The Bucks won eight of their final nine games finishing fourth in the Central Division with a 42–40 record.[8]

Sam Cassell averaged 19.7 points and 5.8 assists per game, while Michael Redd continued to show improvement averaging 15.1 points per game, and Tim Thomas provided the team with 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Kukoč contributed 11.6 points and 1.3 steals per game off the bench, and Anthony Mason provided 7.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.[9]

However, the Bucks did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs, losing 2–4 to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference First Round.[10] [11] [12] The Nets would reach the Finals for the second consecutive year, but would lose in six games to the San Antonio Spurs.[13] [14] [15] Following the season, Payton signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[16] [17] [18] while Cassell and Ervin Johnson were both traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves,[19] [20] head coach George Karl was fired,[21] [22] and Mason retired.

Draft picks

See main article: 2002 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
1 13 PF Tennessee
2 34 C UCLA
2 41 SG Shaw
2 47 PF Texas

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

2002-03 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMEMMIAMILMINNJNNOHNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAWAS
Atlanta— 0–3 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 2–2
Boston3–0 — 2–2 4–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–2 2–0 1–3 3–1 4–0 3–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–3
Chicago2–2 2–2 — 3–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–3
Cleveland0–4 0–4 1–3 — 0–2 1–1 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 0–2 1–2 0–4 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–4
Dallas2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 — 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 0–2 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–0
Denver0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 — 0–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–1 0–4 1–1
Detroit3–1 2–2 4–0 4–0 0–2 2–0 — 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1
Golden State2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–4 4–0 1–1 — 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–0
Houston1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–4 4–0 0–2 3–1 — 1–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–0 1–3 1–1
Indiana2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–0 0–2 1–1 4–0 3–1 2–0 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–2
L.A. Clippers0–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–4 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 — 0–4 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 — 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–1
Memphis1–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 — 2–0 2–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–1
Miami3–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–2 — 1–3 1–1 0–4 0–4 2–2 0–4 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 0–2 1–3
Milwaukee2–2 2–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 — 0–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–1
Minnesota2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 — 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–0
New Jersey3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 — 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 3–1
New Orleans2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 — 3–1 1–3 2–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–0 2–0 2–1
New York3–1 0–4 1–2 2–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 — 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–2
Orlando1–2 2–3 3–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 2–2 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–2
Philadelphia1–3 2–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 3–1 1–2 2–2 2–2 — 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–1 4–0
Phoenix2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 — 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–1
Portland2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–2 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–3 — 1–3 2–2 4–0 2–0 1–3 1–1
Sacramento1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 — 1–3 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–0
San Antonio1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 3–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 2–0 4–0 1–1
Seattle1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–3 1–3 — 2–0 2–2 1–1
Toronto3–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 — 0–2 3–1
Utah1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–0 2–0 3–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–0 — 1–1
Washington2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–2 0–2 1–3 1–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 —

Game log

|-style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || October 30, 2002 || @ Philadelphia| L 93–95|||| First Union Center
19,569| 0–1|-style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || November 2, 2002 || Orlando| L 90–100|Michael Redd (17)|Toni Kukoc (12)|Kevin Ollie (5)| Bradley Center
16,713| 0–2|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 3 || November 4, 2002 || @ New York| W 97–88||Dan Gadzuric (10)|| Madison Square Garden
18,100| 1–2|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 4 || November 6, 2002 || New Jersey| W 99–93|||| Bradley Center
14,539| 2–2|-style="background:#fcc;"| 5 || November 7, 2002 || @ Minnesota| L 110–114|||| Target Center
14,776| 2–3|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 6 || November 9, 2002 || Philadelphia| W 110–105|||| Bradley Center
16,782| 3–3|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 7 || November 13, 2002 || Chicago| W 108–101|||| Bradley Center
14,036| 4–3|-style="background:#fcc;"| 8 || November 15, 2002 || @ Indiana| L 100–103|||| Conseco Fieldhouse
16,010| 4–4|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 9 || November 16, 2002 || Boston| W 104–85|||| Bradley Center
18,717| 5–4|-style="background:#fcc;"| 10 || November 19, 2002 || Miami| L 93–97|||| Bradley Center
13,632| 5–5|-style="background:#ccffcc;"| 11 || November 22, 2002 || @ Golden State| W 95–91|||| The Arena in Oakland
12,170| 6–5|-style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || November 24, 2002 || @ L. A. Lakers| L 99–111|||| STAPLES Center
18,997| 6–6|-style="background:#fcc;"| 13 || November 25, 2002 || @ Phoenix| L 81–86|||| America West Arena
12,986| 6–7

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 19| @ New Jersey| L 96–109| Tim Thomas (25)| Desmond Mason (8)| Gary Payton (10)| Continental Airlines Arena
16,102| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 22| @ New Jersey| W 88–85| Gary Payton (22)| Anthony Mason (8)| Gary Payton (7)| Continental Airlines Arena
17,633| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 24| New Jersey| L 101–103| Sam Cassell (24)| Tim Thomas (11)| Gary Payton (8)| Bradley Center
17,539| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 26| New Jersey| W 119–114 (OT)| Toni Kukoč (23)| Desmond Mason (8)| Gary Payton (14)| Bradley Center
18,391| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 29| @ New Jersey| L 82–89| Toni Kukoč (18)| Desmond Mason (12)| Gary Payton (5)| Continental Airlines Arena
16,601| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| May 1| New Jersey| L 101–113| Gary Payton (24)| Tim Thomas (6)| Gary Payton (8)| Bradley Center
18,717| 2–4|-

Player statistics

Source:[23]

Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
47 46 35.843.739.591.34.63.51.20.221.3
Sam Cassell78 77 34.647.036.286.14.45.81.10.219.7
Gary Payton28 28 38.846.629.474.63.17.41.40.319.6
Michael Redd82 14 28.246.943.880.54.51.41.20.215.1
Desmond Mason28 25 34.047.429.476.56.72.40.70.414.8
Tim Thomas80 70 29.544.336.678.04.91.30.90.613.3
63 0 27.043.236.170.64.23.71.30.511.6
65 58 32.648.60.071.86.43.20.50.27.2
Jason Caffey51 16 17.545.60.065.13.50.70.40.35.8
Kevin Ollie53 4 21.345.920.074.71.93.40.70.15.7
Marcus Haislip39 8 11.343.125.068.41.40.20.20.54.1
Dan Gadzuric49 30 15.548.30.051.84.00.20.41.13.4
Ervin Johnson69 17 17.045.20.068.24.30.30.50.92.2
Ronald Murray12 0 3.534.60.062.50.10.30.30.01.9
Joel Przybilla32 17 17.139.10.050.04.50.40.31.41.5
Jamal Sampson5 0 1.60.00.00.00.40.20.20.00.0

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3FG%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Gary Payton6 6 41.842.96.770.03.08.71.30.218.5
Tim Thomas6 5 31.846.257.171.94.81.30.51.017.8
Sam Cassell6 6 36.247.052.493.33.22.70.50.217.2
6 0 30.749.237.970.04.23.72.20.214.8
Desmond Mason6 6 34.050.90.071.07.00.81.00.713.0
Michael Redd6 0 21.340.425.092.93.51.80.30.29.7
Marcus Haislip2 1 12.066.70.050.02.01.01.00.55.0
Anthony Mason6 0 26.241.20.069.23.30.20.50.23.8
Ervin Johnson6 3 12.737.50.00.04.00.50.50.81.0
Joel Przybilla4 3 8.3100.00.00.02.50.30.00.50.5

Awards and records

Transactions

Overview

Players Added
Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

Players Lost
Via trade

Via free agency

Trades

August 2, 2002
To Milwaukee Bucks---- To Atlanta Hawks----
February 20, 2003To Milwaukee Bucks---- To Seattle SuperSonics----

Free agents

Player Signed Former team
Kevin Ollie
September 6, 2002Indiana Pacers
Cedric HendersonSeptember 25, 2002Golden State Warriors

Player Transactions Citation:[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2003.html 2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks
  2. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Hawks Gain a Scorer in Trade for Robinson . The New York Times . August 3, 2002 . January 13, 2022.
  3. News: Smith . Sam . Eastern Conference Capsules . Chicago Tribune . October 30, 2002 . July 16, 2022.
  4. News: NBA Games Played on February 6, 2003 . Basketball-Reference . September 13, 2022.
  5. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Sonics Deal Payton to Bucks for Allen . The New York Times . February 21, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
  6. News: Heisler . Mark . Losses Will Fit Seattle Like a Glove . Los Angeles Times . February 21, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
  7. News: Nichols . Rachel . Sonics Trade Payton to Bucks . The Washington Post . February 21, 2003 . July 2, 2022.
  8. Web site: 2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.
  9. Web site: 2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 13, 2022.
  10. News: Robbins . Liz . PRO BASKETBALL; Nets Finish Off Bucks and Move On to Celtics . The New York Times . May 2, 2003 . January 13, 2022.
  11. News: Kerber . Fred . Nets Get It Done – Boot Bucks Behind Kidd, K-Mart . New York Post . May 2, 2003 . June 11, 2022.
  12. News: New Jersey 113, Milwaukee 101 . United Press International . May 2, 2003 . November 27, 2022.
  13. News: Associated Press . Spurs Defeat Nets to Win N.B.A. Title . The New York Times . June 15, 2003 . July 15, 2022.
  14. News: Heisler . Mark . Spurs Reduce the 'Risk . Los Angeles Times . June 16, 2003 . July 15, 2022.
  15. News: San Antonio 88, New Jersey 77 . United Press International . June 15, 2003 . September 13, 2022.
  16. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; Malone Agrees to Play for Lakers, Taking a $17.7 Million Cut in Pay . The New York Times . July 11, 2003 . January 14, 2022.
  17. News: Brown . Tim . It's Glove in Hand . Los Angeles Times . July 9, 2003 . June 12, 2022.
  18. News: Neiman . David . Payton, Lakers Agree on Contract . The Washington Post . July 9, 2003 . July 15, 2022.
  19. News: Broussard . Chris . PRO BASKETBALL; In Fallout from Draft, Bucks Trade Cassell . The New York Times . June 28, 2003 . June 11, 2022.
  20. News: Bucks Send Cassell to Minnesota . United Press International . June 27, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
  21. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Karl Is Gone as Bucks Coach . The New York Times . July 21, 2003 . October 27, 2022.
  22. News: Karl Is Out as Coach of Bucks . Los Angeles Times . July 21, 2003 . November 28, 2022.
  23. Web site: 2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 13, 2022.
  24. Web site: 2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks Transactions. Basketball-Reference. January 13, 2022.

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